ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
INTEROFFICE MEMO
To: Charles McClendon – City Manager
Katherine Fuentes – Assistant City Manager
From: John A. Corella, P.E. – Director of Engineering/Public Works
Subject: Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) Annual Report for Calendar Year of 2021.
Date: December 16, 2021
Attached hereto is the 2021 PACE Annual Report. The Report has been prepared by PACE Chairperson Gary Marshall with input from the PACE members that include Vice Chairperson Chip Yarborough, Commissioner Erin Hyland, Commissioner Robert Puentes and Commissioner Stephan Vericker. The PACE Report was discussed and vetted at the October 25th and November 23rd PACE meetings.
Staff had reviewed the report and assisted with edits, which have been reviewed and approved by Chairman Marshall. The Report highlights the Subcommittees that were formed, their responsibilities, the work that they took on in the past year and the Subcommittee’s future task/goals. The Subcommittees maintained and/or formed are as follows:
• Parks
• Community Events (small events)
• Communications
• Organized Sports Activities
• Hiking Trails
• Arts Commission Liaison
• Media
• Desert Recreation District (DRD) Liaison
The Report also outlines suggested items that PACE would like to see initiated in 2022 and the current actions items that are underway with respect to the FY 2021-22 Parks Improvements budget.
The Commission on November 25, 2021 unanimously approved the submission of this Report to the City Manager for distribution to the City Council.
Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE)
Annual Report (Report) for Calendar Year of 2021
This Report is based on:
• Community events in the reporting period.
• Discussions/presentations to PACE.
This Report covers:
• Subcommittee structures.
• Responsibilities of subcommittees.
• Work undertaken in calendar year 2021.
• Future priorities/plans.
What PACE completed respective of the Cathedral City Municipal Code (CCMC) for PACE (definition):
A. “To assess the social, recreational and educational needs of the community:” • Interviews with members of the public at events.
• Comments from public at PACE meetings.
• Research involving the current Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
B. “To assist in the development and implementati on and ongoing evaluation of a master plan for parks and recreation;”
• Presentations and feedback on the Draft General Plan, section on Parks. • 2022: PACE expects to be involved in new plan.
C. “To advise the city council and city staff on the development, market ing and evaluation of parks and recreation programs and community events to meet the needs of the community;”
• Considered the input from consultants hired by City.
• Consider proposals from the Desert Recreation District (DRD). • Worked with PACE/Council Communications subcommittee.
D. “To research innovative strategies for the financing of parks and recreational facilities for the city;”
• Considered funding sources from the Parks Master Plan. • Solicited local sponsors.
• Park naming (adoption) by groups.
E. “To submit annual progress reports to the city council for review;”
F. “To assist on a volunteer basis with community events, and to recruit additional volunteers for such events and related functions;”
G. “To assist the city council on other matters relating to parks and recreat ion as requested. (Ord. 754 § 1).”
Introduction and Overview:
This report covers the calendar year 2021. During that period PACE meetings were held ten times with the months of July and December cancelled due to several staff and/or PACE members unable to attend and /or meetings falling on national holidays. Given the anticipated workload rel ated to DRD and other projects, t he PACE will continue to meet monthly throughout the year, subject to staff and PACE commissioner availability. Meetings will only be cancelled due to lack of staff, lack of a quorum, or when the Chair and Vice-Chair jointly decide that there are insufficient agenda items to warrant a meeting.
Suggested Items for action 2022:
• Dog Parks: Temporary and permanent.
• Increasing park lands.
• Marketing deals.
• Panorama sports facilities.
• Sponsorship.
• City Mailer/Resource Directory.
• Signage improvements.
• Public Arts Commission liaison.
• Prepare Budget Request – Priorities for 2022
• City information booths
• Recruit for volunteer activities.
• Review Dog Park plans.
• Downtown parking and traffic review.
• Improving communications.
To facilitate the work of the PACE, eight Subcommittees were formed as follows:
• Parks.
• Community Events (small park events).
• Communications.
• Organized Sports Activities.
• Hiking Trails.
• Arts Commission Liaison.
• Media.
• Desert Recreation District (DRD) Liaison.
The following are the responsibilities of each Subcommittee:
Parks: To consider and prepare items for discussion by the full PACE related to the creation and maintenance of parks. Items that may need approval by the PACE or if not given to staff for action.
Community Events: To create and evaluate new events such as events at our local parks. To work directly with City staff and their marketing programs for major events and the small park events. To report on the effectiveness of these programs.
To encourage volunteer participation in all programs by PACE Commissioners and members of the community.
Communications: For the purposes of this report the Communications Subcommittee consists of two City Council members and two PACE Commissioners, who will schedule quarterly meetings where the members can exchange information relevant to PACE’s work. This includes the a ssessment of the social, recreational and educational needs of the community.
Organized Sports Activities: Support and help develop activities such as baseball, softball, soccer and other sport activities at our City parks. Communicate with organizations and local residents and help fulfill their needs to have are parks used with their full potential.
Hiking Trails: This Subc ommittee formed to locate and bring awareness to our current hiking trails and exploration of possible locations that could be used in the future.
Public Arts Commission Liaison: Work with Public Arts Commission on their projects if they involve the City parks. Try to attend their monthly meetings and bring the Parks and Community Events Commission current on ongoing art projects in City parks during the Subcommittee reports.
Media: Devise ways to bring to the attention our PACE’s involvement within the community, whether by social media or other means of communication. Work with the Events and Communications Manager to help with our endeavors.
DRD Liaison: Keep informed on ongoing flow of information on the possible annexation of the City parks to the DRD. Be knowledgeable to answer any inquiries posed by community members or fellow PACE Commissioners.
These Subcommittees with two PACE Commission members each, respectively, continue to solicit and review feedback from residents; along with guidance from the City staff and other sources help PACE’s formulation of recommendations to the City Council; for example, the 2022 priorities list submitted in January 2022.
All PACE Commissioners were asked to perform a survey of selected City parks.
These reports were supplied to City staff and with their help estimated costs for repairs and improvements were added to the list that was given to the City Council for them to take into consideration when approving the 2021-22 budget.
Even though this report is for t he 2021 calendar year it should be noted many of the suggested maintenance and improvements recommended to the City Council were approved within the 2021 -2022 budget , Including funds for the proposed small events to be held during the year.
Suggested Items for action in 2022:
• Panorama Park sports facilities.
• Panorama Park sports activities.
• Panorama Park lighting upgrade.
• Century Park sports facilities.
• Park signage improvements (follow up).
• Recruit volunteers for PACE events.
• Updates on City Council approved City park improvements. • Downtown parking and traffic review.
• Public Arts Commission updates involving parks.
• Improving communications.
• Review Dog Park plans.
• Prepare Budget Request – Priorities for FY 2022-2023
• Help communicate to residents the DRD initiative
• Review Cathedral City Community Amphitheater sound and lighting installations.
The following are items that the PACE would like to suggest being considered by City staff and approved by the City Council.
Previous items approved:
PANORAMA
• ADA concrete sidewalk repairs.
• ADA restroom facilities improvements.
• ADA tables, benches, bleachers improvements.
• Repair tennis courts fencing.
• Repair and restripe tennis courts surfaces.
• Install security gates on restroom doors.
• Misc. public restroom improvements.
• Install shade structure over playground area.
• Install additional lighting in park area.
• Repair parking lot.
• New items to be requested.
CENTURY PARK
• ADA concrete sidewalk improvements.
• ADA asphalt repair.
• ADA restroom facilities improvements.
• ADA tables and benches improvements.
• Renew play area surfaces.
• Repair tennis court fencing.
• Repair and restripe tennis courts surfaces.
• Install security gates on public restrooms.
• Public restroom improvements.
• Install shade structure over playground area.
• Install additional lighting in park area.
• Repave parking lot.
OCOTILLO PARK
• Renew play area safety surfaces.
• Repair or replace outdoor adult fitness machines.
• Renew adult fitness surfacing.
DENNIS KEAT PARK
• ADA concrete sidewalk repairs.
• ADA asphalt repair.
• ADA restroom facility improvements.
• ADA tables and benches improvements
• Repair or replace outdoor adult fitness machines.
• Install security gates on public restrooms.
• Misc. restroom improvements.
Current action items to be addressed in 2022:
• CENTURY PARK
• BASEBALL FIELD BACKSTOP
o Large gap between backstop fence and exterior fence. Errant throws can easily land in that opening and go onto DaVall Road. ▪ RECOMMENDED: Backstop would be fine , boundary fence
along DaVall should be extended to cover opening.
• PUBLIC BATHROOMS
o The bathrooms are in dire need of attention especially at Panorama and Century Parks. A deep cleaning and replacement of some fixtures along with doors added are needed.
▪ RECOMMENDED: Although this was on last year’s list and has been included within the budgeted items. Our opinion is that it should have a higher priority.
• PICKLEBALL COURT
o With the popularity of the sport and to offer something new to our residents, Pickleball Courts are a needed amenity.
▪ RECOMMENDED: A study will be completed by PACE to find the best location , in their opinion , for a tennis court to be converted to pickleball or a possible location for a new court to be constructed.
• BALLFIELDS
o During a PACE meeting, PACE requested installing home plates and pitcher mounds at Panorama and Ocotillo Park. Staff agreed to the request.
• OCOTILLO PARK SNACK BAR
o The seldom used snack bar was successfully used at the recent Funorama event.
▪ RECOMMENDED: The PACE will investigate possible uses
in the future. With our explo ration of athletic usage, small events, public use and family reunions for example. ▪ It could have a good future of use.
• SMALL PARK EVENTS
o During the recent budget approval an amount was approved for future events. This included supplies and other items to have successful events.
• FUNORAMA
o Held in October at Ocotillo Park and created by and doing much of the planning and execution of the event was Councilmember Nancy Ross. With the help of volunteers, including PACE members and the DRD staff, the event was a huge success. The turnout of mostly children was large and they left that day very happy.
• FREE YOGA CLASSES
o With the approval of PACE and the City Council the original idea of one of our local resident Antonio Baciu will be happening. o Beginning February 1, 2022 free yoga classes will be offered to all in attendance at the Amphitheater. Classes will be held every Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. through April.
• FUTURE RECOMMENDED
o Subcommittee formed with PACE members to work on events for this upcoming spring and next fall.